originally posted: September 30, 2002 | by chelsie

Aztec herbalists treated not only physical ailments; they sought to treat psychological problems as well. For fear or timidity, the Aztec Herbal recommended, "Let one who is fear-burdened take as a drink a potion made of the herb tonatiuh-yxiuh which throws out the brightness of gold, the herb tlanextia-yxiuh, tetlahuitl and white earth that is to be sifted with river water...." (The Classic Codex of 1552, trans. William Gates, 2000*) [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: September 23, 2002 | by chelsie

"The Floure de-luce of Florence, whose roots in shops and generally every where are called Ireos, or Orice (whereof sweet waters, sweet powders, and such like are made) is altogether like unto the common Floure de-luce, saving that the flowers of the Ireos is of a white colour, and the roots exceeding sweet of smell...." (John Gerard, The Herbal, 1633 ed.) [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: September 16, 2002 | by chelsie

Soapwort (Saponaria officinalis Linnaeus) is a perennial native to Europe and Asia and naturalized throughout much of North America. Soapwort contains saponin glycosides which hydrolyze and form a foamy colloidal dispersion in water. Saponins are irritating to the mucosal membranes. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: September 9, 2002 | by chelsie

There are an estimated fifty species of wild lettuce (Lactuca spp. Linnaeus) around the world; most are native to the Northern Hemisphere. The name Lactuca comes from the Latin lac (milk) for the bitter white sap or latex produced by the plants. Varying with the species, wild lettuce sap is toxic with embarrassing physiological effects. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: September 2, 2002 | by chelsie

The fig (Ficus carica Linnaeus) has been cultivated and eaten since the Bronze Age, but John Gerard, like most people of his time, discouraged eating fruit. "The dry Figs do nourish better than...new Figs; notwithstanding they ingender not very good bloud, for such people as do feed much thereon doe become lowsie (weak, prostrate)." (The Herbal, 1633 ed.) [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: August 26, 2002 | by chelsie

In the third book of The Herbal or the Historie of Plants (1633 ed.), John Gerard describes the beade tree which was known to herbalists as Zizypha candida. Gerard was not content with the herbalists' name: "But deciding all controversies, this is the tree which Avicen (Abu Ali al-Husain ibn Abdallah ibn Sina) calleth Azederach, which is very great, charged with many large arms...set full of great leaves consisting of sundry small leaves...." It is obvious from the illustration the tree is the chinaberry (Melia azedarach Linnaeus). [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: August 19, 2002 | by chelsie

The royal fern (Osmunda regalis Linnaeus) is an ancient species found in bogs and swamps in Africa, Eurasia, and North and South America. The botanical name predates Linnaeus; it was known to herbalists by its present name and commonly called Osmund the waterman. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: August 12, 2002 | by chelsie

"For centuries horse-radish has been grown to tickle the jaded appetites of the overfed." (Taylor's Encyclopedia of Gardening, 1961). Horseradish (Armoracia rusticana P. Gaertner, B. Meyer & Scherbius) was not a condiment in England during John Gerard's day, but he approved it for digestion: [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: August 5, 2002 | by chelsie

"According to the ancient exorcists, when the plant is burned, its smoke has the power of expelling evil spirits....There is a legend that the plant was produced, not from seed, but from vapours arising out of the earth." (Mrs. Grieve, A Modern Herbal, 1931). [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: July 29, 2002 | by chelsie

Common yarrow (Achillea millefolium Linnaeus) [a ki lee' ah mil i fo' lee um] is native to Europe and western Asia. The plant is naturalized over much of North America, Australia, and New Zealand. It is often considered a weedy or nuisance species in cultivated fields. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: July 22, 2002 | by chelsie

Aztec legend says the people wandered for hundreds of years, seeking their new home. The god, Huitzilopochtli told them that when they had killed his nephew, Copil, and thrown away his heart, it had fallen on a stone in a lake. From the stone grew the divine cactus, teo-nochtli. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: July 15, 2002 | by chelsie

Cool-tankard is now commonly known as borage (Borago officinalis Linnaeus). In A Modern Herbal (1931), Mrs. Grieve explains the use, "When steeped in water, it imparts a coolness to it and a faint cucumber flavour, and compounded with lemon and sugar in wine,...it makes a refreshing and restorative summer drink. It was formerly always an ingredient in cool tankards of wine and cider." [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: July 8, 2002 | by chelsie

The guimauve or marsh mallow (Althaea officinalis Linnaeus) is native to wet meadows, river banks, and salt marshes of Europe. The leaves and roots were used medicinally since ancient Greece and Rome. The generic name derives from the Greek althos meaning heal. [Click here to read more...]

originally posted: July 1, 2002 | by chelsie

The butcher's broom (Ruscus aculeatus Linnaeus) is a monocot, native to Europe, North Africa, and the Azores. John Gerard in his Herbal (1633) called it knee-holme and stated, "The young and tender sprouts come forth at the first of the Spring, which are eaten in soms places, as the yong tender stalkes of Asparagus...." [Click here to read more...]